Richard “Lee” Outen Jr., the City Council’s president, announced he was stepping down because he has bought a home outside the city. Elected officials must reside inside the city to remain on the board, according to the city charter.

“In doing what is right, as I now no longer meet the eligibility requirements to be a Council Member, I must resign,” Outen said in a statement last week. “I will continue to offer input and attend the last few meetings but from the other side of the table.”

Outen could not be reached for comment Monday.

No special election is necessary because the next scheduled citywide vote is less than four months away. Outen’s seat is one of three on the Oct. 6 ballot.

He was in his first term on the council after being elected in 2010. He received 190 votes out of the 280 ballots cast, the most out of anyone running.

“He was a wonderful person and we loved him,” said Councilwoman Gloria Ortiz.

Outen’s departure marks the second time a Fruitland City Council member has resigned in as many years.

It comes about 15 months after Ted Lokey stepped down from the council. Lokey, who was elected in the fall of 2012 in his second run for City Council, said he left because he felt his institutional knowledge wasn’t being put to use.

Wicomico County records show Outen and his wife, Christy, bought a home in Salisbury on March 18. The family simply needed a bigger home, he said in the statement.

He presided over several accomplishments in the city, population 4,800. They included renovating City Hall, connecting the Morris Mill subdivision to city water, annexing Crown Sports Center, restructuring the city finance department and implementing a two-year halt on impact fees to spur development.

In his farewell, Outen reserved his strongest remarks for the Morris Mill project, which is expanding the city’s water users by 10 percent and building a half-million-gallon elevated tower — all at no cost to existing residents. For Morris Mill, the municipal water will replace private wells laced with a cancer-causing degreasing agent known as TCE.

“The desire and determination by everyone involved to make this project happen in finding a long term solution to solve a public health hazard has reaffirmed my belief that Government does work for you,” Outen said.

The small city doesn’t have a mayor, so the council president is unusually powerful.

In Fruitland, the president is appointed by the council. The president proposes the annual budget, presides over meetings, signs all city contracts and recommends candidates to fill department head positions, among other things.

Gary Pusey and a fellow tow company operator approached the council in 2011 about raising fees for towing non-accident vehicles. It was one of several times the businessman went before the council during Outen’s tenure.

“He’s a good feller,” Pusey said, noting that Outen incorporated ideas from all sides into the final ordinance. “He was what Fruitland needed at the time.” Pause. “Still needed.”

He isn’t leaving public life completely. Outen serves as the county’s superintendent of the road division.

jcox6@dmg.gannett.com

410-845-4630

On Twitter @Jeremy_Cox

FILLING HIS SHOES

Fruitland officials are calling for any qualified city residents to file a petition of candidacy for the City Council between June 30, 2014 and 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 1. Three seats, including Outen’s vacated seat, are up for grabs during the Oct. 6 election.

Council candidates must have been a resident for at least one year before the election and be qualified city voters.